Badly Treated Rabbit

[ArticChill]

Hello I am sorry beforehand if this turns out to be a rather long message. I happened upon a flemish giant rabbit on Craigslist pure bred and found out that the owners were going to put her down shortly due to no buyers. I took it upon myself to save this rabbit and decided to buy her. When I arrived to meet and pick up the rabbit her living conditions were horrifying. She was kept in a hutch that was half her size and one could tell that she had no room to move based on the fact she was defecating on herself. Also there were signs that she had been left in said cage for long periods of time without being let out to get exercise. To say the least I was very upset and took her home without a second thought. The first time I let her loose several health problems began to show. Her legs are weak and she topples over occasionally. After a period of twenty hours her head is listing to the right side where it is not straight forward. It seems like she has less feeling in the right side especially in the front part right leg. Like her right ear is not as reactive when compared to the left. I feel I am not describing it best as I can. She is eight months old and is a runt weighing eight pounds. One last note is that I feel that the children who owned the rabbit did not know how to hold her because they only supported the front of her and not her whole body.

I would love to take her to the vet but I have no money currently and am looking to any advice or suggestions. I never planned on getting a rabbit, it was a emergency decision. I saw her on Craigslist at 8pm and was picking her up 9am the next morning. This was Tuesday when I picked her up. In the short time I have educated myself enough to take care of her but I am still expanding my knowledge fast as I can. I love her so much and I pray that whatever is wrong with her can be fixed. I am willing to devote myself to taking care of her and raising her the best I can. If you need any more details I will be glad to provide them. Thank you for helping me and reading this message.

 

[doodlebugger]

Try to find a rescue in your area who will help you with the rabbit's care through donations and other resources. They often have a rabbit savvy vet who will work with them to get the proper care for the mistreated rabbits. It is really important to get vet care because the rabbit might need serious treatment as soon as possible. If you truly love the rabbit, it would be best to find someone who can get the treatment, even if it means that you have to give it up. We have a chronically ill Flemie, and just about every three months or less, we can easily spend over $300 to treat him, and that doesn't include in between visits which are over $80 plus all the other costs involved in caring for a bunny. I am thankful that you rescued the Flemie, but it sounds like vet care is what is truly needed. Maybe if you list a state, and perhaps a region (like north, south, etc.), we can help find a rescue for you.

 

[JBun]

I can't be sure from your description, but if your rabbit is tilting it's head, it's possible it has an ear infection or e. cuniculi. In which case it is very important to get your rabbit to a vet, as both are life threatening and need medications to have a hope of treating. I'm sorry you find your self in this situation, but unfortunately rabbits that are mistreated can often have health problems as a result. You will need to find a vet that is experienced with rabbits. You can check these lists of rabbit vets to see if maybe one is near you. You can also look in your local phone book or online. I've also included some links on head tilt so you can see if it really is something your rabbit may have, but regardless it would be a good idea to have your rabbit checked over if at all possible, just because of the poor conditions she came from.

http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f28/finding-vet-13366/
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt.html
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Signs/Cuniculi_signs.html

 

[ArticChill]

Thank you for the hasty responses. If it meant her getting treated I would be glad to give her up. I live in southwest Missouri. When I take her outside to let her get exercise it seems as if the listing to the right side and the being unstable seems to decrease. If she has a ear infection it would be plausible for her equilibrium could be thrown off with the infection. I am sorry this message is not cohesive and sporadic. I am just concerned for her and am not able to think straight. I will check out those links and look into finding some way to get her into a vet as suggested by something like donations.

 

[JBun]

It might be possible what she is doing just has to do with lack of exercise and small living conditions, however, if it is an ear infection, they are very serious in rabbits, and can end up causing severe damage and the rabbit constantly rolling and unable to stand upright and eat. So if she does have an ear infection, it is critical to get it treated asap, as it can get much much worse. If you are unable to afford treatment for her, you may be able to surrender her so that she can get the needed treatment, but you may need to find a caring vet or a rabbit rescue so that she doesn't end up being put to sleep. But she may not even need anything more than a vet check up, and she may not have anything wrong with her. I don't know what vets charge where you are, but for a basic exam where I am, it is only around $45.

The info in those links may give you a better idea of what head tilt looks like. There are pictures and a video as well.

 

[Bville]

Please update us on how your bunny is doing. Her story really touched me and I've been wondering how she is.

 

[Lynne_Bunny]

This really got to me, I hope everything is ok! I saved Peter from a similar situation, thankfully he was in better condition, really breaks my heart! Sending good vibes x

 

[ArticChill]

With just a few days it seems she is improving rather quickly. She is now in a way hopping when she could not previously and is tumbling over less. Her head is also slowly straightening. This evening I took her out and instead of staying in one spot she was hopping for the first time. I also think she was abused based on how she would react in certain situations but she is opening up. Whenever I go into the room where her large cage is she perks up and expresses that she wants to be let out. She is doing considerably better than when I made my first post. She is still having problems but her feet are straightening, she seems to be getting stronger on her right side where previously she could not hold her self up. A big hurdle we are working on is when I put her back in the cage. She is not happy at all when I put her back after allowing her to be outside lol. I still have plans on taking to her a vet but at least now I know she at least has a good chance of recovering.

Thank you everyone.

 

[ArticChill]

I can see us having a great future together. I never planned on owning a rabbit or wanted one due to me being already busy and unlike many cruel people in this world I realize a pet is not a mere novelty. They live for a long time and bring a large responsibility. I do not regret fate bringing us together however. It is rather odd because I was doing other things and somehow ended up in the Craigslist pet section when I never look at pets on Craigslist. I do not know what horrors she has gone through but I want to make sure she never goes through anything horrible again. She managed despite what happened to her to keep a personality. She is very ornery and intelligent. Like when I go to put her in the cage she will snuggle against me playing my heart strings.

 

[LumLumPop]

That's so generous that you rescued her! What's her name? Do you have any pictures of her? I hope she has a long and happy life with you!

 

[JBun]

It does seem like you were almost meant to find her. That's good to hear that she is doing a little bit better, and she sounds like she is settling in really well. Rabbits can be a little willful and independent at times, but those snuggles make up for it all

 

[**SRonchi1]

She may have a spinal cord injury from being handled badly hense having trouble with movement on one side! If it isnt head tilt (which I doubt it is since she is improving) Or an ear infection then I would say it is a spinal injury. Spinal injuries sound very alarming but there are varying types depending on were the interuption of the cord is. They can live very normal lives & if its not a big injury like paralysis then safe excersize can improve the condition & build up co-ordination. If it happens when they are young they adapt quicker than adult bunnies. Children that arnt gentle & patient need supervision with rabbit as their spines are very delicate & bad handling resulting in the rabbit kicking out can even result in spinal damage let alone not supporting her hind legs when picking her up that can do spinal damage to!!! My little doe fell off her kitty play station & started having problems falling over to one side. I took away all of the higher objects & got her excersizing again on the carpet & grass & within a couple of weeks she was running fast around the lounge room & binkying It also sounds like she was abused by those kids & treated badly poor darling! She just needs to build trust in humans again!

 

[ArticChill]

Hello everyone, sorry it has taken me so long to reply! It has been a rather busy week . Here are two pictures of her and her name is Artic. I renamed her to give her a new start. I choose Artic because she is white and so chill. This rabbit is ridiculously relaxed and calm! I also gave her a last name on my friends insisting and that is ocean. Now we can go Ao Ao Ao lol.

 

[ArticChill]

I just want to give a big thank you to everyone ! She is doing so much better and after many massages/physical therapy given to her by me she is now a regular ole rabbit. She is still having a few kinks but they now seem feasible to work out compared to her before state. She is now full on hopping and it makes me laugh because she begins to run really fast with a gleeful look plastered over her face then she gets scared due to going so fast and stops often with a tumble. The first week she would stare at the porch with frustration because she wanted to hop onto it and yesterday she was finally able to! Then today she would hop onto the stoop then hop off then hop back on. She was very amused lol. Her character has blossomed even more. She does not like going back to her cage and she pulls many tactics. Her favorite is to meld herself to the outside wall exterior and lay down making it impossible to pick her up. She is also probably is thinking will he see me? I was thinking of explaining it to her that she is white as driven snow and that camouflage is not going to work for her right now but I chose not to.

 

[Chrisdoc]

She is just adorable and love the name. She looks so well in the pics and good that she seems now to be binkying for you. She´s lucky having so much space. Love the dewlap as well and I´m sure she will be so happy in her new home.

 

[Lynne_Bunny]

Aw she's lovely! So happy for you both, rescue bunnies are amazing!

 

[Azerane]

It's such great news to hear that she's doing so well and recovered. It sounds like she's loving discovering her new-found freedom

 

[rebeccalyn7]

You're stories touched me!

 

[Maureen Las]

She is absolutely gorgeous; I am so happy that she is doing so well in her new home with her "cool" new name lol

 

[rebeccalyn7]

How is she doing now <33333